November 12, 2011 3:01pm ESTNovember 12, 2011 2:40pm ESTTheir 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins was a wake-up call for the streaking Dallas Stars, and in the process, they lost defenseman Alex Goligoski to a broken thumb.

Staff report

Published on Nov. 12, 2011

Nov. 12, 2011

Their 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins was a bit of a wake-up call for the streaking Dallas Stars, and in the process, they lost one of their top defenseman.

Alex Goligoski (two goals, four assists, 21:09 minutes per game) could miss four weeks with a broken thumb.

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It's a bad blow for us, but it's just one of those things that teams go through," coach Glen Gulatzen told reporters on Saturday, according to the Dallas Morning News. "Other guys can step up now."

Goligoski was hit by a puck early in his return to Pittsburgh, where he started his career and won a Stanley Cup before a trade in February 2010. He did not play the final two periods.

The Stars, who play Detroit on Saturday, recalled defenseman Philip Larsen from their AHL affiliate. Adam Pardy, a healthy scratch Friday night, be in the lineup against Detroit.

Larsen, 21, shares some characteristics with the 26-year-old Goligoski, who was the only righthanded shot on Dallas' blue line.

"I like the idea of a righthanded shot," Gulutzan said. "Goose can skate, Lars can skate. Philip had a great training camp, and I don't think there will be any huge learning curve for Philip."

Goligoski had five points and 10 assists for the Stars in 23 games after they sent him to Pittsburgh for winger James Neal and defenseman Matt Niskanen. Neal scored a pair of goals on Friday, giving him 11 for the season and putting him one off the pace of NHL leader Phil Kessel.

Despite the loss, the Stars remain near the top of the Western Conference standings; they'd beaten Washington earlier in the week, part of a challenging stretch that could serve as a litmus test for their surprising start.

“We still have a ways to go,” Gulutzan said. “But we’re not that far off.”